Welcome to Kansas Hunting

Hunters to hit the field less than a week after Thanksgiving
PRATT — The 2009 Kansas firearm deer season runs Wednesday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 13, and hunters are sighting in their rifles and practicing their shooting skills in anticipation of one of the state's favorite hunting seasons. Deer are plentiful, and a good s ... Read More

Special hunts offered on the Smoky Valley Ranch in Logan County; registration required
PRATT — The Nature Conservancy and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) are joining forces to provide lucky young hunters and supervising adults with opportunities to hunt deer during the regular firearm deer season, open Dec. 2-13 ... Read More

Hunters, meat processors, food banks, help provide thousands of meals to poor
TONGANOXIE — With the help of hunters, meat processors, and private donors, Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KSHFH) annually provides thousands of meals to those in need. The Kansas deer firearm season — Dec. 2-13 this year — is the busiest time fo ... Read More

Permits aid conservation organizations; application deadline Jan. 4
PRATT — Applications are now available for qualified conservation organizations interested in applying for Commission Big Game permits. Information and applications are available from Sheila Kemmis, 620-672-5911, or online at the Kansas Department of Wildlife ... Read More

Hunters have several options for testing deer
PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is providing hunters with a list of contractors who will take samples from deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing, and the agency will also take samples from a limited number of deer for testing. Some hunters are co ... Read More

Online identification test required before obtaining a crane permit
PRATT — The sandhill crane hunting season opens Nov. 11 and runs through Jan. 7, 2010. Hunters pursuing this large game bird should be aware that the endangered whooping crane may be present during the sandhill crane season. Whooping cranes use the same habita ... Read More

Both research and habitat improvement projects involved
ALLEN — The National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) Kansas chapters have budgeted $52,600 from the state Hunting Heritage Super Fund for outreach, education, conservation, increased public land access, and other Kansas projects in 2010. The NWTF Super Fund is administere ... Read More

PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that a few more than 550 leftover nonresident deer permits remain available as of Nov.4 — in Unit 10

Leftover permits are those that were not taken in the May nonresident application period. They are Whitetail Either-Sex permits (hunter designates equipment/ ... Read More

Pheasant and quail, prairie chicken, late-migrating waterfowl seasons mark November openings
PRATT — The Kansas pheasant and quail seasons return to their traditional opening and closing dates this fall. Both seasons open on Saturday, Nov. 14, and run through Jan. 31, 2010. Prairie chicken season opens a week later — Nov. 21 t ... Read More

Special hunt highlight of wetland opening
HILLSDALE RESERVOIR – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will conduct a youth/mentor waterfowl hunt at Antioch and Gardner wetlands near Hillsdale Reservoir on Saturday, Nov. 21. A new 35-acre youth/mentor-only marsh adjacent to Antioch Wetland will be featured site. Th ... Read More

December and January hunts for youth who have never harvested a deer; application deadline Nov. 2
ST. MARYS — On Dec. 2-13 and Jan. 1-10, Westar Energy's Green Team will offer guided deer hunts at Jeffrey Energy Center near St. Mary's. The hunts are for youth who have never harvested a deer. Youth must be accompanied by a pare ... Read More

High duck numbers should make good waterfowl hunting this fall
PRATT — Kansas duck hunters don't have long to wait before seasons open, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has predicted high numbers of migrating birds. Find the water, and hunters should be able to find ducks, especially at one of the Kansas Department of Wi ... Read More

Mild weather, low hunting pressure combine serenity and suspense during fall season
PRATT -- Wild turkey populations in most of Kansas have been growing for years, offering hunters the opportunity to pursue this large game bird in the fall. All of Kansas except Unit 4 (westcentral and southwestern Kansas) is open to fall hunti ... Read More

Permits available online, over the counter
PRATT -- No matter what equipment a hunter uses, it's time to gear up for deer season. Two Kansas deer seasons open in September, and another opens in October. The muzzleloader season runs Sept. 21-Oct. 4; the archery season runs Sept. 21-Dec. 31; and the early firearms season in Deer ... Read More

Internet course saves time, money at no charge to the student
PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced conversion of the agency's current Furharvester Education Correspondence Course to an online course. The paper correspondence course will no longer be issued. Any paper tests received after Aug ... Read More

“Deer FAQ” covers most questions hunters may have for the 2009 seasons
PRATT -- How many deer permits can I purchase this year? When are the deer seasons? Do I have to apply for a permit, or can I purchase one over the counter or online? What do I need to know about antlerless deer permits? What units can I hunt? How do I get ... Read More

Program helps biologists track harvest, calculate population trends
PRATT -- For the seventh year, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is cooperating in a mourning dove banding project involving more than two dozen states. The agency is asking dove hunters to look for leg bands on the mourning doves they shoot d ... Read More

Two Wildlife and Parks employees, one businessman newest inductees
PRATT -- The Kansas Hunter Education Instructor Association (KHEIA) -- an independent group of volunteer instructors -- has recently inducted three people to the Kansas Hunter Education Hall of Fame. Stacy Hageman, Zenda; Wayne Doyle, Pratt; and George Peterson ... Read More

Promising outlook could mean continuation of liberal duck seasons
WASHINGTON, DC -- The preliminary estimate of total ducks from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) 2009 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey was 42 million, which is 13 percent greater than last year’s estimate and 25 percent greater than t ... Read More

Students now offered two online coursework options before attending field day training
PRATT -- For several years now, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has offered hunter education courses that provide a large percentage of the work online, followed by a day of mostly field training, including live fire. Seve ... Read More

Edwardsville resident Steven Taylor receives 2009 statewide award
PRATT -- The Advisory Committee to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Hunter Education Program has named Steven Taylor, Edwardsville, the 2009 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. An active instructor for 27 years, Taylor has organized and ta ... Read More

Season dates concurrent for pheasant and quail

The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission has approved a change in the opening date of pheasant season, moving it to the second Saturday in November, effective in 2009.

At its June 26, 20 ... Read More